At 11:30 CEST, the Royal Malta Yacht Club announced that the overall winner of the 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race is the Wallyrocket 71 Django 7X, owned by Giovanni Lombardi Stronati. The RMYC has confirmed that none of the remaining yachts still racing can better Django 7X's IRC corrected time, securing the prestigious Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy for Stronati and his crew.
The victory represents a significant achievement for Stronati and the Django 7X team in one of offshore sailing's most demanding competitions. Racing over 606 nautical miles around Sicily, the crew successfully negotiated a course renowned for its complex weather patterns, challenging transitions and tactical demands. The result reflects the combined efforts of an accomplished international crew and a highly competitive yacht, delivering an outstanding performance against a formidable fleet.
The winning crew: Giovanni Lombardi Stronati, Andreas Axelsson, Nicholas Brezzi Villi, Giacomo Conti, Cecilia Zorzi, Chris Hosking, Grattan Roberts, Giulio Bertelli, Matteo Raviani, Michele Ivaldi, Michael Cochetti, Guillermo Parada, Pietro Mantovani, Ray Tomassetti, Ross Halcrow, Shannon Falcone, Bruno Zirilli, David Vera San Luis and Vasco Vascotto.
A full report on Django 7X's victory in the 2026 Rolex Middle Sea Race will follow this announcement.
Beyond the considerable support and partnership of Rolex, title sponsor since 2002, the RMYC also benefits from the commitment of Yachting Malta, a public private partnership between the Government of Malta and the RMYC, and three other government bodies instrumental in the successful organisation of the 606nm Rolex Middle Sea Race: Transport Malta, responsible for safe operation of Grand Harbour among other aspects of Malta’s transport infrastructure; the Malta Tourism Authority, charged with advancing the Maltese tourism sector and activities that attract visitors to the archipelago; and, Armed Forces of Malta, responsible for defence and safeguarding national interests. The RMYC is also extremely grateful for the assistance of the Italian Military Mission in helping with race coordination in and around the coastal waters of mainland Italy and its wider islands.
The Royal Malta Yacht Club traces its roots back to 1835. It is a volunteer-run club promoting all aspects of sailing, from its junior programme to its pinnacle offshore event, the Rolex Middle Sea Race. The Club exists to serve the sailing community of Malta and visiting sailors from around the world, including those competing in its most famous race.
The Royal Malta Yacht Club endorses the position taken by World Sailing, the International Olympic Committee and other global sports organisations concerning the invasion of Ukraine. Until further notice the RMYC is unable to accept entries from yachts with identified connections to Russian and Belarusian nationals. The Club will continue to monitor the situation and take any appropriate actions in line with the international community and World Sailing.
The Royal Malta Yacht Club is intent on enhancing its sustainability efforts, reflecting a real commitment to environmental stewardship. In July 2024, the RMYC launched its Sustainability Compass. This strategic initiative is aimed at guiding the club’s operations and events towards a more sustainable future. It is also designed to influence and inspire sailors to adopt more eco-friendly practices, not only during the Rolex Middle Sea Race, but as the norm in order to protect the marine environment.
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